Glucosamine and vegetarians
A vast majority of the available glucosamine supplements contain glucosamine that has been extracted from shellfish, such as shrimps, crabs and lobsters. Glucosamine and vegetarians are therefore normally not a suitable combination, regardless of whether you are a vegetarian that should stay clear of animal products due to health reasons or a vegetarian/vegan who have chosen to refrain from eating animals due to ethical, religious, cultural or environmental concern.

Since a few years back, there is however an alternative to shellfish based glucosamine supplements: corn. This new non-animal product has made glucosamine and vegetarians a possible combination and vegetarians with arthritis can now enjoy the benefits of a glucosamine rich diet. It was an American developer that found out a way of extracting glucosamine from corn instead of shellfish and this developer has now created a vegetarian alternative to normal glucosamine supplements on the market. The corn is first fermented, then used to manufacture glucosamine supplement for vegetarians.

Glucosamine and vegetarians and Jews
Vegetarians are not the only ones who can benefit from the new corn-based glucosamine supplements. Kashrut, the body of Jewish law that deals with food and food preparation, states that of the things that are in the water, only animals with fins and scales are allowed as food. (Lev. 11:9; Deut. 14:9.) This means that shellfish, such as shrimps, clams, crabs, oysters and lobsters cannot be eaten by Jews who observe Kashrut. Jews who follow Kashrut have therefore normally chosen to refrain from using glucosamine supplements. Today, Jewish people can finally enjoy the benefits of glucosamine since it is possible to use corn to manufacture glucosamine supplements that adhere to Kashrut rules.

Glucosamine and vegetarians and people with allergies
Shellfish allergies are very common today, especially in western countries. In the United States, over 11 million persons suffer from food allergies and over 50 percent of them (6.5 millions adults) are allergic to seafood. The number people allergic to seafood increases each year and no one really knows for sure why, but it may be linked to our modern diet and an increased living standard where the immune system does not have to stay busy fending of smallpox, measles, tuberculosis and other diseases that were once common.

Most people with a seafood/shellfish allergy are sensitive to protein in the flesh of shellfish, but it is also quite common to experience allergic reactions when eating shellfish gelatine made from skin and bones. Because of this, it is not a good idea to use normal glucosamine supplements if you are allergic to shellfish, especially since shellfish allergies often manifest in the form of really serious allergic reactions. Even a tiny amount of shellfish can be enough to cause swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, sometimes accompanied by shortness of breath, wheezing, and a life threatening drop in blood pressure.

With the new corn-based glucosamine supplement, even people with seafood allergies can enjoy the benefits of glucosamine. When producers tried to find a why of making glucosamine and vegetarians a possible combination, they simultaneously created an excellent alternative for 6.5 million adult Americans with seafood allergies.